Season 2 Episode 20: The Singing Bone

This faery tale has been told again and again and has many variations the world over. I found versions from England, Turkey, Russian. Pakistan, Germany, and India, just to name a few. The version I am telling here is from the traditional English tale associated with Binnorie.

Uzvar

Yield: 10 servings

4 oz Dried Prunes; Pitted

4 oz Raisins

8 oz Dried Apple Slices

8 oz Dried Pear Quarters

1 c Honey; Clover Or Wild

1 Cinnamon Stick

6 Whole Cloves

2 qt Apple Cider

Juice And Peel Of 1 Lemon

Combine the fruit in a large pot and fill with enough cider to cover it by a
third more. (The fruit will absorb a lot of liquid.) Add the cloves and
lemon peel. Simmer until the larger pieces are cooked but not falling apart.

Pour off the liquid into a pan and cook until reduced by 1/3rd. Add the
honey, cinnamon, lemon juice, and fruit. Reheat, stirring. Taste, and add
more lemon juice if needed. It should not be cloying sweet, the taste of the
fruit should dominate. Serve warm in crystal or clear glass bowls. Keeps in
the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Kutia/Kutya

Yield: 6-8 servings

1 pound wheat berries

1 pound walnuts in the shell, or 1/2 to 3/4 pound shelled, optional

2 cups granulated sugar

1 vanilla bean, grated

Peel of 1 lemon, grated

1/2 cup raisins, optional

1/2 cup dried apricots, chopped, optional

1/2 cup poppy seeds

Confectioner's sugar

Shell the walnuts.

Soak the wheat overnight, covered with water about 1 to 3 inches above the grain. Pour off the water, and put in a stock pot with fresh water, just enough to get to the level of the grain.

Put the pot with wheat on the stove and boil it for 2-3 hours on a very low simmer. There should be just enough water in the pot to keep the wheat from burning. Be sure that the heat is low and watch very carefully. Add water if necessary. Pour off water and rinse with cold water.

Pour off all liquid. Spread the wheat berries out on kitchen towels and dry for 2 hours. You can place them in a turned off oven to help dry them out.

Place the wheat berries in a food processor and grind them. Remove the wheat berries to a bowl and then grind the walnuts in the food processor. Mix the walnuts with the ground wheat. Add 2 cups granulated sugar, lemon peel, vanilla and the optional ingredients. Finally stir in the poppy seeds